Applied to music video “Now” by Paramore

NARRATIVE THEORIES

Tzvetan Todorov (1977) The equilibrium of the plot is represented in a very visual way in this first shot. They are literally ‘on level playing field’ , both occupying the same amount of space in the frame etc.

The equilibrium is then disrupted by the (presumable) antagonist throwing a grenade at the (presumable) protagonist, the front woman of the band.

There is conflict all around, seemingly triggered by the conflict existing between the antagonist and the protagonist. There is no evidence in the syuzhet to support a fabula in which there is other reason for the war to take place. Therefore, the viewer infers that the cause of the war is the conflict (of ideologies) between these two characters.

• Argues that all media texts tell some kind of story about the culture of the society to which it is marketed.

• The interpretation of the text relies on careful mediation from the producer which is deciphered by the audience.

• There are often several interpretations available, due to the varying ideologies of groups and individuals.

• However, the producers are somewhat aware of these varying interpretations and mediate the text so it will portray the institution’s ideologies as effectively as is possible.

TIM O’SULLIVAN 1998

• CONFORMIST VS NON-CONFORMIST

INTERPRETATION 1

UniformsMajorityResemblance to Nazi eagle on the pin on his hat

Non-conventional clothingOnly 3 of themThe only female fighterColoured powder mark them as different

Claude Lèvi-Strauss’ (1958) theory of binary opposites!

• Due to the ages of the pro/antagonist, the two could potentially be father and daughter.

• The narrative is reminiscent of the conflict that happens between parents and their children; the child is trying to break away from their parents, the parents still worry about and want to protect their child.

• This is typical between fathers and daughters because fathers can be over protective of their daughters which sometimes causes tension and resentment

• However love heals over all this conflict, as conveyed by the way the protagonist hugs the antagonist at the end, seemingly ‘melting his heart’ and ridding him of his anger towards her

• In this way, the text is telling a story about aspects of our culture that affect many people.

• This story may also be telling of the singer’s own afflictions; therefore the audience feels as though they may be getting an insight into their personal lives and experiences

• This is the point of Tim O’Sullivan’s theory; that media texts are influenced by and reflect the culture towards which they are targeted.

FATHER DAUGHTER CONFLICT

• The antagonist’s side uses violence to attempt to oppress the protagonist’s side

• The protagonist uses minimum force i.e. fighting off the soldiers. The protagonist’s don’t actually retaliate the violence

• In the end, an act of love seems to bring about peace• The narrative of the text then serves as a political anti-

war message.

LOVE AND PEACE

Every story ever told can be fitted into one of eight narrative types. Each of these narrative types has a source, an original story upon which the others are based. These stories are as follows:

•Achilles: The fatal flaw that leads to the destruction of the previously flawless, or almost flawless, person, e.g. Superman, Fatal Attraction.

•Candide: The indomitable hero who cannot be put down, e.g. Indiana Jones, James Bond, Rocky etc.

•Cinderella: The dream comes true, e.g. Pretty Woman.

•Circe: The Chase, the spider and the fly, the innocent and the victim e.g. Smokey And The Bandit, Duel, The Terminator.

•Faust: Selling your soul to the devil may bring riches but eventually your soul belongs to him, e.g. Bedazzled, Wall Street.

•Orpheus: The loss of something personal, the gift that is taken away, the tragedy of loss or the journey which follows the loss, e.g. The Sixth Sense, Love Story, Born On the Fourth Of July.

•Romeo And Juliet: The love story, e.g. Titanic.

•Tristan and Iseult: The love triangle, Man loves woman…unfortunately one or both of them are already spoken for, or a third party intervenes, e.g. Casablanca.

KATE DOMAILLE (2001)

This narrative fits into two of the plot types indentified by Kate Domaille. Many media texts do this, as there are seldom just one theme or one storyline in one media text, meaning that multiple themes and multiple interveaving storylines fit into different narrative types.

NOW by Paramore;• Achilles: The fatal flaw that leads to the destruction of

the previously flawless, or almost flawless, person, e.g. Superman, Fatal Attraction.

• The antagonist is defeated by being shown affection.• Circe: The Chase, the spider and the fly, the innocent and

the victim e.g. Smokey And The Bandit, Duel, The Terminator.

• The antagonist is using his army to try to ‘chase down’ the protagonist side

KATE DOMAILLE APPLIED TO NOW - PARAMORE

Pam Cook 1985

Linearity of cause and effect

Antagonist throws grenade which triggers battle

High degree of narrative closure

Protagonist survives to reach antagonist, then hugs him which consequently ends war

A fictional world that contains verisimilitude especiallygoverned by spatial and temporal coherence.

Verisimiltude is created through costume and location. We are familiar with what the costumes signify and that land battles happen on open fields.